Delta Regional Authority
				AboutAbout DRA
				Mission
								Enabling Legislation
								Regional Development Plan
								Careers
								Federal Co-Chair
								States Co-Chair
				Board Members
				Staff
				DRA States
				Alabama
								Arkansas
								Illinois
								Kentucky
								Louisiana
								Mississippi
								Missouri
								Tennessee
About DRA
	Mission
		Enabling Legislation
		Regional Development Plan
		Careers
		Federal Co-Chair
		States’ Co-Chair
	Board Members
	Staff
	States
	Alabama
		Arkansas
		Illinois
		Kentucky
		Louisiana
		Mississippi
		Missouri
		Tennessee
ProgramsCritical Infrastructure
				States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP)
								Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF)
								Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA)
				Capacity-Building
				LDD Community Support Pilot Program
								Strategic Planning Program
				Human Infrastructure
				Health Programs
				Delta Doctors
								Innovative Readiness Training (IRT)
								Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Program
								Delta Region Rural Hospital Workforce Training Program
				Leadership
				Delta Leadership Institute (DLI)
				Workforce
				Delta Workforce Grant Program
								Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC)
Critical Infrastructure
	States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP)
		Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF)
		Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (PWEAA)
	Capacity-Building
	LDD Community Support Pilot Program
		Strategic Planning Program
	Human Infrastructure
	Health
		Delta Doctors
			Innovative Readiness Training (IRT)
			Delta Region Community Health Systems Development
			Delta Region Rural Hospital Workforce Training Program
		Leadership
		Delta Leadership Institute (DLI)
		Workforce
		Delta Workforce Grant Program
Resources MenuResources
				Intracoastal Waterway Economic Assessment
								Local Development Districts
								Projects Investment Map
								Federal Partners
								Delta Summit
				Federal Partners
				Rural Partners Network
								Justice40
								Executive Order on Equity
								Build America, Buy America
								White House Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
				Zero Trust
								Tribal Consultation Plan
								Made in America Report
								Applicant User Guide (New Grant Portal)
Resources
	Federal Initiatives Menu
	Federal Initiatives
		Rural Partners Network
		Justice40
		Executive Order on Equity
		Build America, Buy America
		White House Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
		Zero Trust
		Tribal Consultation Plan
		Made in America Report
	Intracoastal Waterway Economic Assessment
	Local Development Districts
	Projects Investment Map
	Federal Partners
	Delta Summit
	Applicant User Guide (New Grant Portal)
Media Menu
Media
	Press Announcements
	Publications
	Sign Up for News Alerts
Accountability
Accountability and Transparency
	Performance & Accountability Report (PAR)
	Annual Report
	Lapse Plan
	Budget Justification Home / Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative Funding Now Available


Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative Funding Now Available April 28, 2023
				The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the availability of $44.2 million in a fifth round of funding through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative. This funding will help workers access new, high-quality career opportunities and create economic mobility in the Appalachian, Northern Border, and Lower Mississippi Delta regions.



Administered by DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, WORC Initiative grants range from $150,000 to $1.5. million and fund projects to provide jobs, career training, and employment support services to people in the Appalachian, Northern Border, and Delta regions. Successful applicants will design projects that demonstrate collaboration with community partners and coordination with existing economic development strategies.



The purpose of the WORC Initiative is to fund grants that create pathways for economic mobility, address historic inequities for underserved and underrepresented communities, and produce high-quality outcomes for workers who live or work in the Appalachian, Northern Border, and Delta regions. Designed to address persistent economic distress, the WORC Initiative aligns community-led economic and workforce development strategies and activities to ensure long-term economic prosperity and enables workers in the regions to succeed in current and future career opportunities.



The fifth round of funding is made available through a partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, Northern Border Regional Commission, and Delta Regional Authority.



**Application Deadline: June 13, 2023**


Delta Regional Authority
				Delta Regional Authority
				Quick Links
				SEDAP and CIF Funding Portal
								Map Room
								Contact Us
								Sign Up for News Alerts
								Privacy Policy
								Federal PartnersThe DRA was established in 2000 as a formal framework for joint Federal-State collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River and Alabama Black Belt regions. To fulfill this purpose, DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training, and business development. DRA works to create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those that reside in the region. DRA’s region encompasses 252 counties and parishes in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.DRA’s enabling legislation dictates that at least 75% of DRA’s funds must be invested in economically distressed counties and parishes and isolated areas within non-distressed counties and parishes. In addition, half of DRA’s funds must support transportation infrastructure and basic public infrastructure.
				Contact Us
				Delta Regional Authority236 Sharkey Avenue, Suite 400Clarksdale, MS 38614(662) 624-8600» Staff Directory
				Facebook
							Linkedin
							Twitter
							Instagram
							Youtube © 2024 Delta Regional Authority. All Rights Reserved.


Open toolbar


Accessibility Tools Increase Text
							
							Decrease Text
						
													Grayscale
						
													High Contrast
						
													Negative Contrast
						
													Light Background
						
													Links Underline
						
													Readable Font
																		Reset